Post-driver



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. J. THORP.

, POST DRIVER. No. 442,555. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/ T. J. THORP.

POST DRIVER.

No. 442,555. Patented 1360.9, 1890.

0.5mm m 4 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. THORP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POST-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,555, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed August 26, 1890. Serial No. 363,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, THOMAS J. THORP, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Drivers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for driving tubular posts into the earth; andit consistsin the-construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with one wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section on line a z of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a like section on the line of the same. Fig. 5 is a View of a post-holder in an open position. Fig. 6 is a section on line 20 w of Fig. 1.

The drawings show a two-wheeled vehicle, of which 2 is the axle.

3 3 are the uprights or posts of a frame supported on the axle. These posts are grooved, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and at 4 in Fig. 3. These posts are united by suitable cross-bars, including the bars 1 and 27, and by an arched piece 5, in which are supported the guides 6 6, adapted to receive the two arms 7 7 of a bent or U-shaped bar 8. 9 is a weight provided with ears having holes to receive said arms.

At the bottom of the rods7 is secured a cap 10, which is adapted to rest upon and fit the post-holding shell or hinged sleeve 11 and hold its parts together upon the post. Latches 26 may also be supplied for this purpose, if desired. This holder, made in two parts, is hinged at 22 and provided with grooves 25 to receive the post-rings when the holder is closed upon the same.

12 is a cross-bar or movable yoke, to which the pintle-rod 22 of the post-holder is secured. The ends of this bar are movable in the groove 4.

13 is a tubular fence-post.

14 is a pulley-block, and 15 a pulley-rope, for raising the hammer. This pulley is suspended from a cross-bar 16, supported on the arms 7 7,just above the arch 5. It is double, and 15 indicates a rope which is attached to the rear of the post-holder 11 and passes over said pulley. These ropes 15 and 28 can, at their outer ends, be secured to hooks or cleats on the tongue or any suitable part of the machine.

- The posts and post-holder and guide-bar 12 are or can be suspended by the rope 28, running over pulley 14, and that will then assume the perpendicular in a plane at right angles to the axisof the vehicle.

17 17 are racks provided on the posts 3 3, and 18 are pinions engaging said racks.

19 are hand-wheels for revolving the pinions, and 20 are gravitating or spring-retaining pawls.

By means of the hand-wheels, one of which is omitted from the drawings to better exhibit a pinion, either side of the frame can be raised or lowered, whereby the frame can be tilted to either side to adjust the post-holder and post in the plane parallel with the axle. The bow or cross-bar 27 is pivotall y connected to the axle by a bolt 29, these posts being curved, as represented, to permit the post holder and posts to swing freely in a direction transverse to the axle.

24 is a brace connecting the pole or tongue and the crossbar or bow 1, which latter is rigidly fixed to the uprights, and by this means the frame is held at right angles to said pole and in an upright position when the pole is supported, as shown in Fig. 2.

23 is a prop, which is preferably made transverse. It is pivoted to the pole in such manner that when it is not required for supporting it, as indicated in Fig. 2, it can be turned to a horizontal plane and be used asa tongue-extension, whereby two or three men can conveniently draw the vehicle. If not required for this purpose, it can be turned over and rest upon the brace 24, as when one person is drawing the carriage.

In operation a hollow fence-post is placed within the holder, their tops being near together, and the sections of holder are closed and secured upon the post. The weight 9 and holder 11 are raised and lowered by means of the rope and pulley, and so that the bottom of the post is near the ground, and the holder and postwill assume by gravity the proper position in one plane, as before explained, and can be suitably adjusted in the transverse plane by tilting the supportingframe, as described. The capis fitted upon the holder and holds its sections together. The Weight having been raised, as stated, is next dropped from its raised position, and by its fall upon the cap 10 forces downward the holder and the post and drives the latter into the ground. As it is made of thin metal, it readily penetrates the earth, and with a small displacement of earth. The hammering may be repeated, if necessary. When a post has been thus properly set, the weight is raised and the cap lifted and the holder opened,

whereupon the carriage is drawn away fromit to the point where another post is to be set, and the operation is repeated.

The carriage is designed to be run by hand; but a large one adapted to be run by animals can be used, and such vehicle or wagon might be used to transport the posts to be set, though for the carriage illustrated, which is to be drawn by hand, the posts can be predistributed along the fence-line.

The mechanical details of my machine can be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention so long as substantially the same mode of operation and principles of construction are employed.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a post-driving machine, the vehicle, the adjustable frame supported upon the axle by a pivot, and the racks and pinions for tilting the frame in a vertical plane, in combination with devices for suspending a post in said frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a frame having grooves or guideways, the post-holder having hinged sections adapted to be closed on the post and the yoke adapted to slide in the Ways, the holder being attached to the yoke, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a frame having grooves or guideways, the post-holder having hinged sections adapted to be closed on the post and the yoke adapted to slide in the Ways, the holder being attached to the yoke, the hammer and its guide-rods, and devices for raising the hammer, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a frame having groove or guideways, the post-holder having hinged sections adapted to be closed on the post and the yoke adapted to slide in the ways, the holder being attached to the yoke, the hammer and its guide-rods, and devices for raising the hammer, said rods passing through elongated slots in the frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine fordriving posts, the holder made in sections hinged upon a pintle-rod, a movable yoke fixed to. said rod, and a cap adapted to fit the end of the holder when its sections are closed to hold the sections closed, substantially as set forth.

(3. The combination of the vehicle, the frame having two uprights attached to its axle, the bow connecting the uprights, the pole of the vehicle, and the brace connecting the pole and bow, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the vehicle, the frame having two uprights attached to its axle, the bow connecting the uprights, the pole of the vehicle, and the brace connecting the pole and bow, and the prop pivotallyconnected to the pole and adapted to be swung over the end of the pole and rest upon the brace, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. THORP. Witnesses:

BENJ. R. CATLIN, Anon. M. CATLIN. 

